Las Vegas plastic surgeon Goesel Anson, MD, takes a holistic approach to beauty. She knows that while surgery and minimally invasive techniques can help rejuvenate an aging face, sleeping in the correct position and other important lifestyle changes can prevent some of the signs of aging from occurring in the first place.

A partner at Anson, Edwards & Higgins in Las Vegas, Dr Anson graduated from the University of Illinois School of Medicine, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society and received the Warren Cole Scholar Award. She completed a general surgery residency at the University and Cook County Hospital, spending two years of her residency conducting surgical oncology research. Dr Anson completed her advanced plastic and reconstructive surgery training at New York University, followed by a fellowship in microsurgery. She is also the inventor of JuveRest®: The Sleep Wrinkle Pillow.

The plastic surgeon-turned-inventor sat down with Beauty In The Bag to talk about her multi-specialty practice, her philosophy on aging and plastic surgery as well as the anti-wrinkle pillow she developed.

The biggest mistake is waiting too long to intervene. The earlier you start with quality skin care and protection, the better you will age. Non-surgical procedures (Botox Cosmetic, fillers) typically come next, followed by surgery. People tend to wait too long before having a facelift, thinking ‘I’ll wait until I really need it and can see a big difference.’ That is opposite to what I recommend! I have found you will look better later, having had earlier and smaller procedures.

2. Tell us about your practice

Anson, Edwards & Higgins is unique in Las Vegas. While my specialty is facial surgery, my partners, Drs Michael Edwards, a Past President of ASAPS, and Terry Higgins focus on breast and body surgery and our dermatologist, Dr Alison Tam, specializes in laser treatments. We also have two nurse injectors and four medical aestheticians. The beauty of our practice model is that we can offer specialized expertise and a variety of treatment options. We commonly coordinate services so a patient may consult with or receive treatment from several of us in one day. It gives our patient the option to have duo surgery by two specialists at the same time.

3. What is Juverest?

The JuveRest® The Sleep Wrinkle Pillow is a new concept in anti-aging which grew from my basic practice philosophy. My job is to advise my patients on all aspects of facial aging: skin care, fillers, BOTOX, and surgery. I discovered that most of my patients were not aware that some of their facial aging is caused by the way they sleep. When you lay on your side or stomach, facial skin is stretched, distorted and sleep wrinkles occur. I’ve always told my patients to avoid sleeping on their faces but it’s very difficult to change sleep habits. So, I designed the JuveRest pillow to help solve that problem. We are very excited that studies and clinical trials are confirming the marked improvement in facial distortion from using JuveRest. Since launch on QVC on last year, we have received a lot of great consumer feedback.

4. Why did you choose plastic surgery?

Before I trained in plastic surgery, I completed a general surgery residency. I fell in love with plastic surgery because of the detail in skill required and because it allowed creativity. I found that I needed both sides of my brain working! I started my career doing all types of plastic surgery but found myself drawn to facial aesthetics. Intellectually, there is always something new to learn but also allows creative and artistic satisfaction. I also love that it’s a positive experience for my patients and that we can both “see” the results.

5. How do you approach the aging face?

Every patient is different, and each facelift I do is individualized for that patient’s specific anatomy. My goal when I evaluate a patient is to create an individual, comprehensive plan. Surgical options, non-invasive options and skin treatments should all be considered. Blepharoplasty, facelift and browlift are the most common surgical procedures I perform, however non-invasive treatments including BOTOX and various fillers are key parts of any rejuvenation plan.

6. What are some of the trends that you are seeing in practice today?

Pendulums swing. I would like to think we’ve past the high mark when it comes to overly filled faces. I definitely think we are trending back to a more natural appearance. I spend a huge amount of time reassuring patients that they don’t have to look that way! I remind them that we tend to only notice bad surgery, not good surgery. Everyone wants to look as good as they can for their age. That seems to be true across cultures and across time. Today we have access to many more options for surgical and non-surgical enhancement and rejuvenation, increased social acceptance, and a longer lifetime to appreciate these advances.

Men are much more involved in aesthetic treatments today than ever before. Not only are men taking care of their skin, but they are also having Botox and fillers. Men account for about 20% of my surgical practice today.

People are much more aware of the powers of prevention in health and beauty. They are recognizing the importance of advancements in skin care ingredients including antioxidants, retinoids, and peptides; sun protection; lifestyle improvement and the effects of sleep position.

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